The kids are home from school, and after a few days of relishing their freedom, they're bored.

Local libraries and museums offer outstanding summer programming. If you are looking for other ideas, here are some from moms who have been there.

Toddlers/preschoolers/young children

Create a masterpiece

Hang a large strip of butcher block paper across two trees, chairs or any objects.
Give your kids washable paint and paint brushes of any size and let them go to town.

Take it to the next level: Dilute a watercolor paint (try "Liquid Coloration" that washes off any surface) 50/50 with water and fill spray bottles with the paint solution. Young kids will have a great time spray-painting. Add another design element by buying or creating large stencils of animals or other fun shapes. Tape them loosely to the paper and let your kids make a zoo by spraying paint in the stencils.

Get wet

Slip-n-slides are inexpensive and easy to set up. You only need a patch of grass and a hose. The same goes for a sprinkler. If you have more money and space to work with, inflatable pools and slides are an absolute blast. If not, all you need is a hose or a sink and some water balloons.

Take it to the next level: Multi-task by parking your car on the front lawn and have the kids give it a washing. Provide each child with a special job, such as the windows, tires or bottom half of the car (where they can reach). You'll have a clean car, cool kids and a watered lawn at the end of the day.

School-aged children

Set up a scavenger hunt

If you are lucky enough to know your neighbors, they can provide easy entertainment for your kids. Give the children a list of items they need to find by going door-to-door to houses you know are safe and willing to participate. Give them a timeline and send the kids on their way.

Take it to the next level: Tie the scavenger hunt to something else that you are doing, such as a book your child is reading, a vacation you are taking or another point of interest. After the scavenger hunt, talk to your kids about the items they found, what they mean and the overall experience.

Check out a yard sale

Give your children a small amount of money and let them figure out how to spend it. Teach them how to bargain politely, and how to say no if the price isn't right.

Take it to the next level: Gather your children and their friends and challenge them to find the best bargain, the item with the most interesting story or the oldest item.

Tweens and teens

Take it to the next level: Work with your child to create a resume and a list of references. This will help them market themselves now and prepare for college or job applications in the future. It also will help them see what they have accomplished.

Facilitate a book club

You can keep your kids reading over the summer and provide a great social outlet by creating a reading group.

Take it to the next level: Select a book that has been made into a movie; read it first, then rent the movie or take the group to a matinee. Ask them about differences and similarities between the book and the movie.

If you have other suggestions, go to www.mlive.com/family talk and sahre them. Who couldn't use a fresh activity on a hot, stale day?

Family Talk magazine appears in the Kalamazoo Gazette on the first Friday of every month. Look for a family-related story every Friday in the Today section.